Compassion Does Not Suffice to End Bloodshed in Syria

‘Compassion Does Not Suffice’ UN Rights Panel Says,
Urging Immediate End to Bloodshed in Syria

New York,
Mar 18 2014 - As the Syrian war enters a fourth year, the
harrowing violence shows no signs of subsiding – the
fighting has driven some nine million civilians from their
homes and has reduced many of those who remain to scavenging
– said the head of a United Nations-appointed human rights
panel, denouncing the international community’s inaction
in the pursuit of peace and accountability.

The
Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the
Syrian Arab Republic – appointed by the UN Human Rights
Council – presented earlier today in Geneva a detailed
report on the living conditions of men and women in the
region and outlined a list of individuals – on all sides -
believed to be responsible for crimes against
humanity.

“The lives of over one hundred thousand people
have been extinguished. Those freed from detention now live
with the physical and mental scars of torture. The fate and
whereabouts of thousands more remain unknown,” regretted
Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, Chair of the Commission.

According
to the report, nearly nine million people – a third of the
population – have fled their homes. In addition to the 2.5
million refugees, there are an estimated 6.5 million
internally displaced people inside Syria, and millions more
living in enclaves surrounded by violence.

“This is the
tragic reality of the Syrian war,” stated Mr. Pinheiro in
his presentation, adding that “no one can claim ignorance
of what is going on.”

Drawing attention to the
starvation endured by civilians, the repeated acts of
terrorism they face every day, and ever growing complexity
of the battlefield layers, the Panel deplored the lack of
action by the international community: “Compassion does
not and should not suffice,” insisted Mr. Pinheiro adding
that “we cannot continue to sit for years in these rooms,
writing reports and making speeches lamenting the blood that
is running in Syria’s streets.”

In February, the
Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2139 which
highlighted the need to end impunity for violations of
international law and reaffirmed “that those who have
committed or are otherwise responsible for such violations
and abuses in Syria must be brought to justice.”

In the
course of its research, the Commission established a list of
individuals and entities, such as military units and armed
groups, as well as the names of those responsible for
violations and crimes documented throughout its reports,
from hostage-taking and terrorism to torture and executions.
This so-called “perpetrator’s’ list” also contains
names of military commanders who target civilians, airports
from which barrel bomb attacks are planned and executed, and
armed groups involved in attacking and disciplining
civilians.

“We have an enormous volume of testimony –
over 2700 interviews as well as a wealth of documentary
materials,” said Mr. Pinheiro. “We do not lack
information on crimes or on perpetrators. What we lack is a
means by which to achieve justice and accountability,” he
insisted, calling on the Security Council to “make this
pursuit of justice possible” and to resume the negotiation
of a political solution “with renewed vigour.”

“The
warring parties and the regional and international actors
must assume their mantles of responsibility and bring this
war, and its horrors, to an end,” said Mr. Pinheiro,
underscoring that the volumes of testimony will be the
Commission’s enduring legacy: an archive of Syrian voices
and a resource for future prosecutions.

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